A Detour

Paul Bacani, 38, married, is a college graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree, major in Electronics and Communications Engineering.
He works in an information technology company, in the Web Application Administration and Support Department, which focuses on data maintenance and daily monitoring of production servers to ensure their stability and availability.
He lives in Quezon City.
Paul said he had a fairly good faith foundation. But career priorities took him on a spiritual detour.

His Story

I was raised by my parents to be God-fearing and truly I was.

I studied briefly in a Catholic school, and during my youth, I joined the Youth for Christ, and then the Singles for Christ.

I was also a choir member back then so I can say I’d  had a fairly good spiritual foundation— but, I must say,  not deeply rooted enough for me to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

I took a detour in my spiritual journey when I started living in the corporate world back in 2002. I got busy at work, focused on improving my career, running the rat race.

A year later, I got married and the more I worked hard for my family.

Since then, everything a
bout my job had been  falling into place and it felt like I could rely on my own efforts to be a success in my career.

Before I knew it, I was already skipping Sunday Mass, preferring to stay home to take a breather from the past week’s grind. It came to a point where my wife and daughter got used to attending Mass without me.

I had been unchurched for so long and I thought that was going to be my life from then on. But inside me, it was like I was wandering and got lost.

Finding The Feast

One time, I attended Mass and afterwards, I wanted more of God—as there was this thirst in my soul. I felt that in my journey to get to know Jesus more I must join a faith community.

My wife and my sister knew about Bro. Bo Sanchez but were not regular Feast attendees. One day, they suggested that we go to Feast PICC.

I first attended Feast PICC in January 2014. Then I found out there’s a Feast in Ortigas, which is nearer where I live, so I transferred there.

Later, my family was  invited to be offerors during Mass at Feast Greenhills. We first attended there on the last Sunday of March 2014, then by April, I made a decision to serve there— in the Music Ministry as singer and bass guitarist.My family and I have been a member of Feast Greenhills since then.

I’ve found hope in The Feast, and I draw strength from its wonderful —wounded but healed—people. The Feast helped me rediscover my lost Faith in God. No matter how broken I was, God still held my hand and accepted me through this place. It’s also a place where you can allow yourself to be vulnerable and be healed.

I am grateful to be able to worship God with others and the opportunity to be part of the Music Ministry, the Worship Team, and bless others through it— as its objective is to disciple people and build relationships. Also, the concert-feel is a bonus.

Back to The Church

Thanks to The Feast, what I now  like most about my Catholic Faith is the Holy Mass—the Holy Communion, where we receive the Body and Blood of Christ— and the Crucifix which reminds us how Jesus loves us.

This, we should always be in awe of: To be able to worship God and know Jesus the Catholic way.